Formation of a molecular ion by photoassociative Raman processes

We show theoretically that it is possible to form a cold molecular ion from a pair of colliding atom and ion at low energy by photoassociative two-photon Raman processes. We explore the possibility of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage from the continuum of ion–atom scattering states to an ionic molecular state. We provide physical conditions under which coherent population transfer is possible in stimulated Raman photoassociation. Our results are important for experimental realization of PA in ion–atom cold collisions.